LOS ANGELES—African-Americans once were clustered so heavily in urban areas that the terms “black” and “inner city” came to be used almost synonymously. According to the 2010 U.S. Census results, that time is history.
While blacks have by no means vanished from cities, unprecedented numbers have headed for the suburbs or left the big cities of the North and headed south. As legislative districts are redrawn, nonpartisan groups and both political parties are watching how this … Read entire article »

Commentary, Earl Ofari Hutchinson
LOS ANGELES, Calif.–GOP presidential contenders Michelle Bachman and Newt Gingrich figured out yet another ploy to knock President Obama. Blame him for joblessness among blacks now at nearly Great Depression levels, especially for young black males.
Both candidates made the claim in recent speeches at the Republican Leadership Conference. Gingrich got so carried away with this absurd notion that he went off the deep end by claiming that Obama’s … Read entire article »

Ask the average person about redistricting and the response, most likely, would be a perplexed stare. Yet, redistricting is one of the fundamental “deciders” of who gets to represent the community (district) in the Congress (House of Representatives only); the state Senate, the state Assembly and the state Board of Equalization. (The county and the city officials draw their own district lines).
It is important to understand the rationale behind the state mandated redistricting … Read entire article »

SAN FRANCISCO—Few ordinary Californians have been more intensely interested in the state’s new Citizens Redistricting Commission than Berkeley-based Tea Party activist David Salaverry.
Back in March, he realized that the fledgling panel, with its 14 citizen members drawing political districts instead of politicians and its commitment to openness and transparency instead of behind-the-scenes deal-making, offered a golden opportunity for conservative Californians to influence the redistricting process at a time when their political clout was waning … Read entire article »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House
Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement on today’s
United States Supreme Court decision that invalidated a class-action lawsuit brought
against Wal-Mart by women from across the country alleging years of discrimination
in pay and promotions.
“Today’s ruling from the right wing Roberts court is another blow to a woman’s right
to fair pay and fair treatment on the job. There is no place in … Read entire article »

(Sacramento, CA)–Governor Jerry Brown today signed a bill to help homeowners in California prepare for the next disastrous earthquake. Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson (D-Alameda) commended the Governor for signing AB 184 and explained its tremendous value to public safety.
“I thank the Governor for signing this very important bill today. Seismic safety is a serious ongoing concern in California. There is a 63 percent chance of a 6.7 or greater magnitude earthquake erupting in the Bay … Read entire article »

By: Robert Rogers, Richmond Confidential
By August, Richmond may have a new representative in Congress – and the city’s leaders are divided over whether that’s a step in the right direction.
Democrat George Miller has been Richmond’s Congressman for more than three decades, but that run could effectively be over this fall. A state commission created to redraw state and federal district boundaries has proposed moving Richmond out Miller’s 7th District and into Democrat … Read entire article »

By Big Cat Tolefree
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a female soul singer with Pam’s energy and commitment to performing songs, not just singing them. Every song, every shimmy each and every show has the same power and passion, a raw emotion in a bottle of seductively infectious sincerity that comes across naturally. I appreciate Pam Hawkins and big sound she’s mastered over the years, no other female … Read entire article »

Berkeley Juneteenth Festival Publicity Chair, Ms. Delores Nochi Cooper Edwards, accepted a ‘Slave Apology’ resolution from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, on behalf of the Berkeley Juneteenth Festival Association.
Having being honored that the Board selected her to accept the resolution; Edwards noted that, “my initial response was a flood of overwhelming emotion.”
“As sincere as the gesture appeared, and as honorable as it was for the Board to have the insight and foresight to extend this olive branch,” said Edwards, my initial thinking was:
“How can we (African Americans) accept this apology; how can this apology undo the atrocities of slavery148 years after the Emancipation Proclamation; and how can … Read entire article »